A more immersive bet, though, is to paddle about Carrot Island’s adjoining neighbors - Bird Shoal, Town Marsh and Horse islands - exploring both by boat and by foot. There’s a lot to see throughout this 2,315-acre collection of islands, salt marshes and tidal flats that together make up the Rachel Carson Reserve (for Carson’s own account of the area, track down her 1955 book, “The Edge of the Sea".)
If you’re up for more of an open water adventure, head on over to Shackleford Banks, where you may well have the barrier island to yourself, save for the wild mustangs that still roam free. Be advised that getting to Shackleford requires crossing Beaufort Inlet, a big water experience that will expose you to stronger currents and tides, and make you more susceptible to the weather.
More information about Shackleford Banks and Carrot Island, as well as the broader area, the Cape Lookout National Seashore and Rachel Carson Reserve: here, here, and here!
Location: Rachel Carson Reserve + Shackleford Banks, Front St, Beaufort, NC 28516
Rating: Moderate to very difficult depending upon weather and whether you’re continuing on to Shackleford Banks.
Length: 100 yards to three miles or more, depending on what routes you choose!
Put-in + GPS Coordinates: 2370 Lennoxville Rd, Beaufort, NC 28516, 34.710286305440235, -76.63211844859282
Take-out + GPS Coordinates: Same.
Time to complete: 1-8 hours, again depending on your route choices.
Gauge: N/A
Minimum flow: N/A